Bafana jump in FIFA rankings

2011-04-13 10:27

Zurich - Bafana Bafana have jumped seven spots from No 46 to move to 39 in the latest FIFA rankings while Soccer World Cup winner Spain have stayed on top and the previous two champions, Brazil and Italy, have risen in the top 10.

Spain leads longtime No 2 the Netherlands with Brazil climbing two places to No 3.

Germany and Argentina follow in fourth and fifth as each fell one spot.

Italy ends a seven-month exile from the top 10. It rises two places to No 9 following wins against Slovenia and Ukraine last month.

Asian champion Japan continues its surge since the World Cup, rising two to No 13.

Ghana is Africa's best, up one to No 15.

The United States leads CONCACAF teams at No 22 despite falling for the second straight month.

FIFA rankings for April (March position in parentheses):

1. Spain (1).

2. Netherlands (2).

3. Brazil (5).

4. Germany (3).

5. Argentina (4).

6. England (6).

7. Uruguay (7).

8. Portugal (9).

9. Italy (11).

10. Croatia (8).

11. Norway (11).

12. Greece (10).

13. Japan (15).

14. Chile (14).

15. Ghana (16).

16. Serbia (20).

17. Slovenia (17).

18. Russia (13).

19. France (18).

20. Australia (21).

AP

Comments

crazydude - 2011-04-13 10:43

The upward curve continues, well done Bafana.

L - 2011-04-13 10:51

Well done bafana. Beat Egypt again and go up

Sofa King. - 2011-04-13 10:57

Do not feel alone. SA rugby will soon join you in your ranking.

mike.rockey - 2011-04-13 12:08

sofa king stupid to say somethign like that.

Raeez - 2011-04-13 13:36

Sofa King you such a dumb...ag nvm, not worth it.

CITIZEN - 2011-04-16 09:10

NOU PRAAT JY GROOT KLOMP KAK WE WON TRI NATIONS AND WON WORLD CUP TWICE YOU PROBALY SMOKING YOUR SOCKS

Justin Schonegevel - 2011-04-13 10:58

Well done boys! Keep up the fight! Please attract bigger teams for friendly matches. I think strong recurring competition will be the best for SA football. How about a mini tournament against Russia, USA and Australia. Don't think many Europe teams will sacrifice players ahead of Euro Qualifiers and Club matches now. Other teams that would be a good challenge and be a fair match are New Zealand (they beat Italy) Japan and Mexico. Please keep bringing us good football.

Billy - 2011-04-13 11:10

Well done Boys! Slowly but surely we'll get there, on top.....Go Bafana!!!!!!!!!

Billy - 2011-04-13 11:11

Well done Boys! Slowly but surely we'll get there, on top.....Go Bafana!!!!!!!!!

Billy - 2011-04-13 11:11

Well done Boys! Slowly but surely we'll get there, on top.....Go Bafana!!!!!!!!!

BRONZE - 2011-04-13 11:16

How exactly do we keep jumping? I know we've one a few games but we are not just jumping one spot but leaping over a few countries. Are some countries no longer playing soccer?

papaown - 2011-04-13 11:22

no bronze...some other countries are losing games while we are winning!

Point Blank - 2011-04-13 15:07

Wow BRONZE just went full retard...

BRONZE - 2011-04-13 11:20

How exactly do we keep jumping? I know we've one a few games but we are not just jumping one spot but leaping over a few countries. Are some countries no longer playing soccer?

Sibusiso.J Mahlangu - 2011-04-13 11:43

Egypt is ranked highly in Africa and also it is on top of us on the world rankings hence we got many points for beating them....... besides that, we been playing well and winning recently (I stand to be corrected if i'm wrong )

Sibusiso.J Mahlangu - 2011-04-13 11:45

Egypt is ranked highly in Africa and also it is on top of us on the world rankings hence we got many points for beating them....... besides that, we been playing well and winning recently (I stand to be corrected if i'm wrong )

Sibusiso.J Mahlangu - 2011-04-13 11:46

Egypt is ranked highly in Africa and also it is on top of us on the world rankings hence we got many points for beating them....... besides that, we been playing well and winning recently (I stand to be corrected if i'm wrong )

Sibusiso.J Mahlangu - 2011-04-13 11:50

Egypt is ranked highly in Africa and also it is on top of us on the world rankings hence we got many points for beating them....... besides that, we been playing well and winning recently (I stand to be corrected if i'm wrong )

scott - 2011-04-13 11:50

EVERYTHING SPANISH, RULES FOOTBALL-FROM THE NATIONAL TEAM TO BARCA AND MADRID. the only reason england is always so high is coz they keep beating all the small teams in qualifying games and friendlies.

Albo - 2011-04-13 11:55

Once again, take away Real and Barca and you`re probably left with the most boring league in the world!!

Only Truth - 2011-04-13 13:03

I couldn't have said it better myself Albo.....Actually La Liga should be called Real Barca Soccer League, cause season in season out it's always a two horse race in Spain.

Lump of coal - 2011-04-13 11:50

Bet we are ranked top five in corruption !!!

Tshifhiwa - 2011-04-13 11:55

I think malema should sing "Shoot the stupid Lump of coal"

Lump of coal - 2011-04-13 13:00

@Tshifhiwa, hope so!!! cause he says he means the boers no harm !!! Seriously though, go look into the finances of SA soccer and you will see why our juniors are not coming through. Montenegro has a population of well short of one million and they run their shop well. Young footballers in SA do not have a chance like in lots (not all) of other countries. Do you not want your national team to succeed ??

Ntsikei - 2011-04-13 13:51

I think lump of throath is confusing the Khoza administration with the Nematandani admin..........our football is improving weekly go do your research before shooting from the heap! all of or Nationa teams have Sponsors, have new coaches, are performing better than before Kirsten Nematandani...........I'm not his "praise singer" the dide refused to be paid a monthly stipend of R30000, whilst the former regime took it.....................get your facts straight, he only gets was due an was agreed in his contract

Yaseen - 2011-04-13 14:05

Actually if you look at a corruption index, we are ranked 46 out of 160(1 being least corrupt) countries according to Transparency International. Dont make bets when you dont have the facts!!!!!

silverflash - 2011-04-13 11:56

Hey Bronze rankings are calculated by Fifa which uses a simple calculation .Google it and learn something .

silverflash - 2011-04-13 11:56

Hey Bronze rankings are calculated by Fifa which uses a simple calculation .Google it and learn something .

Da@Ismile - 2011-04-13 12:33

stop sending same comment more than once.

BRONZE - 2011-04-13 14:19

I think I should do that, because I'm really wondering how they do it. Every month or so we seem to be moving up even when we've played only one game. I just hope it doesn't get to our heads because we are far from playing the sort of soccer to land us in the top twenty teams in the world.

Petrus - 2011-04-13 12:30

wt criteria is BEING UZD tdetermine who drops/goes up in the FIFA rankings? i mean wt hv england achieved wthin the past decade?

Musa Ngubane - 2011-04-13 13:19

Well done Bafana. Keep on winning, until we are no. 1 in Africa!

Innocent - 2011-04-13 14:25

SA peeps are so not cool

Innocent - 2011-04-13 14:27

A simple well done to the boys is hard to say.

Innocent - 2011-04-13 14:27

A simple well done to the boys is hard to say.

Clive25 - 2011-04-13 15:01

this people they wish us nothing they are unpatriotic and racists. imagine if da was to win the general elections.............. we will be gased

Not2Seriaaas - 2011-04-13 16:30

Well done boytjies. Great improvement over the last couple of years...keep it up!